Acting
Jul 30, 1931
Berlin, Germany
Ivan Rebroff
Acting
Biography
Ivan Rebroff (31 July 1931 – 27 February 2008) was a German-born vocalist, allegedly of Russian ancestry, who rose to prominence for his distinct and extensive vocal range of four and a half octaves, ranging from the soprano to bass registers. Rebroff was born in Berlin as Hans-Rolf Rippert to German parents. His parents were Paul Rippert, an engineer born in 1897 in Liebenwerda, and Luise Fenske, born in Bydgoszcz (then part of Prussian Bromberg). He claimed Russian descent, and while often disputed, this has never been totally refuted. In a 1989 interview with Izvestia, he said "according to documents I am Ivan Pavlovich Rebroff" (Russian: Иван Павлович Ребров). He studied singing at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg. Although his knowledge and pronunciation of Russian was imperfect, he became famous for singing Russian folk songs, but also performed opera, light classics and folk songs from many other countries. He was known on stage for his gusto. He performed over 6,000 concerts in his career, including a two-year seven-day-a-week stint at the French opera, singing and acting, among other greats, the role of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. Rebroff still performed 12 shows in 14 days when he was well into his seventies, such as on an Australian tour. Ivan Rebroff described himself as international, the "connection between East and West". He became a citizen of Greece and lived on the Greek island of Skopelos in the Sporades. Rebroff was homosexual. As well as being a phenomenal singer, videos such as this and photos such as this suggest that he was at least a reasonable violinist and keyboardist (he is pictured playing a church organ but may have also played the piano). He died in Frankfurt after a long illness. Four days after his death, his brother Horst Rippert, who is nine years his senior (and by his own unsubstantiated accounts shot down Antoine de Saint Exupéry during World War II), claimed part of Rebroff's vast fortune.
Feature Films (7)
In the Temesvar Province, a landowner returned from exile marries a gypsy girl who is revealed to be the daughter of a Turkish Pasha and the rightful owner of a hidden treasure. Next to "Die Fledermaus", DER ZIGEUNERBARON is Johann Strauss’s most popular operetta. The libretto gave Strauss the chance to revel in such contrasting musical forms as the Csárdás and the Viennese waltz. The style of the lied forms and ensembles is so original and finely balanced that the "Gypsy Baron" can truly be called a comic opera. Among the leading names of the stellar cast in this exuberant 1975 film of the operetta are Wolfgang Brendel, Ivan Rebroff, Janet Perry, Ellen Shade, Martha Mödl and, in the role that launched his career, Siegfried Jerusalem as Sándor Barinkay.
The Gypsy Baron
Sasha Voronin, a famous singer about to marry supermodel Nathalie, falls victim to John Darow, who attempts to murder him by knocking him out and throwing him into the sea. Sacha is taken in by fishermen, but he has lost his memory and takes the name Samson. Samson's memory begins to awaken when he hears a familiar tune during a circus performance, and begins to sing. Deciding to leave with the circus troupe, he ends up being hired by the director of a radio station, who launches him on the air under the name of "unknown singer". Nathalie, meanwhile married to John, recognizes his voice and wants to find him; Sacha rejects her because he has fallen in love with Maria. John again tries to eliminate Sacha, then attempts to kidnap Maria. After a mad chase, Sacha defeats John, who is arrested by the police.
Das Lied der Balalaika
The Akar family gets a negative letter from the Immigration Office. The parents resign themselves to this, but their son does everything to prevent the eviction.
Kleiner Mann was tun
Television & Series (52)
A long-running German-language entertainment television show based on the format of the British show You Bet! and the American show Wanna Bet?.
